Wood Orca

Wood Orca

Through my travels and adventures, I meet lots of people. One is a woman named Marlene. She carved a wooden orca decoration some years ago. This is a free standing native style rendition of the Orca's found in Puget Sound, Washington. It was modeled after some of the local tribes totem pole carvings. And no, it is not for sale, I already asked that question.

Even though it is not for sale, the picture shows how some people that may not be famous or have galleries make some pretty cool art work for their own enjoyment. This is one of those pieces. 

Radio Direction Finding, Bird Dog 360

Bird Dog 360 Receiver

A new toy of mine has been the Audio Intelligence Devices, Bird dog 360 Receiver. This is an old school, professional grade direction finding receiver made in the late 1980's. These were commonly used by private detectives and police departments to track suspects while driving vehicles. They came with very specific transmitter frequencies and a magnet mount transmitted that needed to be placed on the vehicle. The receiver consists of two main components.

The main components of the receiver are the receiver box and the display unit. The receiver box allows for the reception of up to 6 transmitters at a time and can look for pulsed RF signals as well as audible modulated signals. Continuous Wave (CW) and voice settings allow you to listen to more than just the transmitters included in the kit. Line lever outputs are included for headphones and connection of a tape or digital recorder. A large speaker is on the face of the receiver, and puts out some loud audio. A ribbon cable with locking connectors sends received data to a display unit that can be up to three feet away from the receiver box.

The display unit has the common circle of LED's and a center display that gives a numeric value to the bearing of the received signal. Signal strength and indications for movement alarms can be shown as well. The entire display is red and can be dimmed to a point where no light is output. This is perfect for those discrete moments when everything needs to go dark. These would have been used in a van or truck with blacked out windows or curtains most of the time, but you never know when you may need this feature. These two boxes connect to four antennas, and receive signals from a small magnet mount transmitter.

The antenna array is also magnet mounted to the roof and must be in a specific square orientation. Each antenna is the same length and uses the Doppler effect to determine bearing and distance. What this means is that each antenna receives a signal and each signal is compared. The one closest to the transmitter determines the bearing. Then the other three are used to determine strength. electrically this requires the antennas to be separate from each other physically, but with the same length of cable, and insertion loss. With four antennas, with the same cable, same resistance and other electrical factors, it is easy for an electronic circuit to determine direction and signal strength.

Then it is a matter of driving around and getting used to the unit. Neither the receiver box or display nit has any way to connect it to the dash. No suction cups, Velcro, or mounting brackets are included. These really look like they would be mounted to a shelf or desktop. Small rubber feet are on the bottom of both units. The display box being so light that the ribbon cable forces it to go where the cable folds push it. I use this system with the receiver seat belted to the passenger seat and the display wedged between my windshield and dash. The red display and background lighting match perfectly with a Pontiac or BMW back light scheme.

In 2015, many people may wonder why a hardware direction finding kit is useful. Software and computers have replaced a great deal of test equipment and radio gear. Well in the case of direction finding, even the software based systems require the use of hardware antennas and some form of interface box. The  fact that a computer is not required could be seen as an advantage or a fault. Computer based receivers could log the data better, but would require software updates, a computer to be booted and connected, and Microsoft licenses to be updated on occasion. For stand alone units, they just work, and do not need updates to work. Their is also no possibility of malicious code or corrupt software causing damage to the equipment. For the amateur user, the only other real option is the Ramsey electronics kits. these are small plastic kits that are for hobbyist use, they are not as rugged and do not appear to hold up well with permanent installation.

For those with the need to find and range a specific radio signal, look to used commercial gear to fill this need. As a better alternative to the hobbyist kits, this type of receiver can be found on auction sites and used radio locations. Seek out county auctions, police and fire department sales. Often times the hardware is older, but fully functional. It may only lack a manual or a cable. I have had great luck finding very well made hardware that has minimal usage time for cents on the dollar this way. You can build up your arsenal of radio gear quickly and it will last longer in the field. Good luck on the fox hunt, happy hunting.

Please Try It Our Way First

Try It Our Way First

Everbuy something and proceed to break it by not reading the instructions? Sure you have, most guys have done this at some point in their life. So would you do this to something sophisticated like a business telephone system? How about a telephone system used got 9-1-1 call taking? Some companies do this.

When I bought a sophisticated piece of electronic hardware, with many subsystems, it came with a note to "Before you do it your way, Please Try it Our Way". This company had obviously had too many end users try it their own way first. I have seen this with many telephone and dispatch vendors for 9-1-1 equipment. Feel safe? Have you ever needed to call 9-1-1? Wouldn't it be better if you knew that smart and competent people were involved?

The people who install and maintain many 9-1-1 dispatch and telephony systems, do not read the manual first. Sometimes they are not even trained on the gear they install. Other times, they lack the basic installation and test equipment to do their job. This may not be the employees fault, perhaps the company only buys a few pieces of equipment. For phone systems, and telephone service technicians, a common piece of gear is the buttset. Tone wands helps trace wires. Multimeters show electrical activity. These should be in every technicians toolbox. However,without knowledge, or reading the manual, these are all worthless.

In this litigous age we live in, even items that should not need instructions come with them. So when you purchase complex hardware, why not read the manual? Do you really want to look like a fool in public? Do your part and read the instructions. Knowledge is power, and knowledge is becoming harder to come by. For you sake and for those that may rely on your work, read the manual and do it by the book. This will take you far in life, and may safe your job some day, or even someones life. That life may actually be your own. Imagine if I decided to not worry about instructions one day. What if I did this with a Mk12 thermonuclear warhead? Before you do it your way, please try it our way first!

Who Watches the Watchers

Who Watches the Watchers?

Ever think about who watches the watchers? Many peope say that we do not need to keep tabs on the overseers, our government, or military. Sure there is supposed to be Senate oversight, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. Well in the real world, we, the citizens watch the watchers.

The American people need to watch their government. If you do not like something, do something. If someone is hiding things on their own servers, back it up on your own server. Much of the data that moves around the world, goes over satellite, the internet, or telephone lines. This makes it pretty easy for us to keep an eye one government officials. Just as ISIS used social media to keep tabs on military personnel, or steals information and service records, this can be used by pretty much anyone in society.

Obviously, if you are the type that has that blinking 12:00 on your VCR, this may not be your area of expertise. But for those that can, a lot of this information is free for the taking. It's not just social media, much of the worlds traffic is transferred with little encryption or security measures in place. Get yourself some equipment, education and practice with it. You may be amazed at what is out there. Most of society has smart phones now, this is an easy way to watch the watchers.

The news has shown how a camera in the hands of a citizen can keep those that would harm you at a distance. Cameras and information are powerful tools. We have the power to monitor and keep our leader in their place. Better yet, vote them out of office. Stop listening to their scare tactics. Take ownership of your leaders, and watch them closely. If they feign ignorance, but the proof is out there, post it for all to see. Here is one method I use to keep tabs on some of the radio waves.

Shown here is a small listeing station, monitoring UHF satcom transmissions. Trivec satcom antennas and high end data capable radios allow for the logging of radio traffic all over the world. Forums online show how to set up your monitoring station, what works equipment wise, and how to get everything tuned just right. Just remember, we watch the watchers. We hold the power.

Cheap Alternative To Cisco Call Manager Based Phone Systems

Want to save money on your next PBX? Ditch that proprietary Public Branch Exchange telephone system and use an open source Asterisk based PBX instead. For just the small investment in hardware and some mental work on your part, you can have a nice phone system for not a lot of money.

Instead of paying thousands for Cisco Call Manager and licensing fees, Asterisk only requires modest hardware and some computer know how. Sites such as Nerd Vittles can show you how to make your very own PBX in short order.

Begin with a server, the computer hardware that runs the phone services. Then add Asterisk, this is like Cisco's Call Manager. Then add an unmanaged switch. Think D-Link or 3Com. Then run all of this in RedHat/CentOS linux or even Ubuntu. Your cheap PBX is on its way.

The heart of this phone system is SIP. This is Session Initiation Protocol, an open source phone protocol. This means that you do not need to pay for the software, but for ease of use, some vendors will help for a fee.

Once set up, a Linux based PBX will save you money, not cost you licensing fees, and you do not need to go down that path of constant Cisco certification. You know, where you must test every two years to keep your certification. Testing that forces you to spend thousands of dollars to only understand one proprietary protocol. If you want a phone system that works, and works well, look to Asterisk and Linux for the answer.

Sure you can still use your Cisco 7960 phones if you want to fake out others, making them think you are running a Cisco Call Manager based system. Go ahead, I won't tell, will you?

Drozd BB Gun - After a few years in storage.

                                                        The Baikal Drozd, One Great BB Gun

While cleaning out one of the far frung closets in the house, I noticed a plastic wrapped cardboard box buried high up on a shelf. Upon moving several items to get it down, I see a faded Baikal emblem on the box. Looking closer,I see that this is the Drozd BB gun made in Russia. This awesome BB gun was an impulse purchase many years ago.

While making extra money saving the world from hurricane ravaged flooded areas, and placing radio and telephone gear around the Gulf Coast region of the United States, I found ways to spend my overtime pay. One item that allowed me to spend more than I would have thought was the Baikal Drozd. This was the original model, a yellow and black plastic and steel BB gun that had an electronic trigger and motorized feed mechanism. A local pawn shop had sold these for $200 each. One was placed on the wall, for all to see.

This particular store sold more ammo and firearms than they took in pawning. The local police department was known to place orders through them as well. This yellow and black contraption seemed to get picked up a lot, but placed back on its perch on the wall. I finally asked about it one day, and held it in my hands. I was told that this was the easiest full auto device to get your hands on. Being in a state where full auto weapons were hard to come by, this sounded like it could be fun. The saleman said this was CO2 powered and fired BB's at up to 600 feet per second.

Two slide switches are on this gun, one on each side. On one side is a selector for: 1, 3, or 6 round bursts. The switch on the other side selects: 300, 450, or 600 BB's per minute. With an electrical trigger and feed mechanism, this model runs on 6 AA batteries. The unit can be "dry fired" and makes a low sounding clack when it would be shooting BB's. The barrel is rifled steel and a warning in the manual says to only shoot lead BB's through it.

Having the $200 burning a hole in y wallet, I decided to get one. However, the one on the wall seems to have some dirty grime from the number of people pawing over it. The yellow frame has the dark marks of dirt and scratches on it. I ask for a new one, in the box. A few minutes later and I have a new Drozd. Taking it home I realize I need to find my CO2 cylinders. This takes normal 12 gramm cylinders like other guns I have. The magazine is made of heavy steel with only one plastic cover on the bottom.

With the one included magazine loaded with 30 BB's and a CO2 cylinder, I place this assembly into the Drozd. I take aim at a piece of wood in my back yard. Along with the clack I get the wizzing of BB's out of the rifled barrel. This things zings BB's pretty fast. It is also pretty loud. A few bursts later and 30 BB's are gone. The piece of wood is flipped around and tore up into match sticks. This is a fun "toy".

Going online, i realize I need another magazine, and any other options it can take. At this point I realize that this futuristic pistol came with a plastic press in buttstock. This is a two piece unit that just slides into the back of the Drozd pistol. This makes it two in one. With the buttstock the Drozd is a bit more controllable.

After ordering more magazines and some bulk fill modified magazines online, I start looking for an idea to get rid of the yellow look. This thing is really colored like a bumblebee. It is pretty ugly as it is now. My idea is to take it apart and paint it black. But paint has a bad record with me and plastic. After some searching online, I find others who dye the plastic with RIT brand dye. This is my next project.

After getting some black RIT dye and heating a large pot of water on the stove, I bring it all to boil. The RITS dye is stirred into the water, then the plastic pieces of the Drozd go in. I have read that you must keep the parts moving or else spots form in the plastic. The Drozd came apart easily, my concerns are, will it look good and go back together well? After about 20 minutes boilin this plastic mass in water and dye, I am satisfied in the deep black look of the plastic. It is now time to let the pieces dry.

Once dry the plastic looks even better. The RIT dye left a deep purple/black color in the plastic. After careful reassembly, the contrasting of died pieces and those that came in black looks great. A full function test is in order once it is back together. Adding in AA batteries and a loaded and charged magazine, a few shots are taken in the back yard. Everything works perfect, and now it looks cool. This thing looks like a space gun.

A short while later, a fake supressor, and muzzle brake arrive. These screw onto the threaded barrel and change the look without messing with function. Fast forward a few years later, and it still looks cool. This version has been discontinued and with imports from Russia being limited, these are great BB guns to buy and keep. They seem to hold their value and are built tougher than most BB guns. I recommend you get one for fun burst firing in your back yard.

Hungarian? Entrenching Tool/Shovel

Hungarian? Entrenching Tool/Shovel

 Surplus Hungarian Military Shovel

Have a need for a small foldable shovel for use around

the yard, or auto? Perhaps you hike a lot and need a

small shovel. Or maybe you like the idea of a military

surplus shovel. Here is a good one to have. The Hungarian

military surplus shovel.

These shovels were found in a military surplus mail order

catalog a few years back. They looked a little different

from the standard American military folding shovel. They

also seemed to have different handles and I could not

tell how they folded. Due to the cheap price, I bought

two of them.

What I received was two Hungarian military surplus

folding shovels, and their canvas sheaths. The sheaths

were made of cotton duck fabric and has Velcro style hook

and loop fasteners for the cover flap. I found it odd

that they had two strips of fastener, but maybe that is

for some military use.

Each shovel was folded inside of its sheath and was

coated in what appeared to be battleship gray epoxy type

paint. Both appeared to be slightly used or at least

refurbished. One had grease marks on its cotton sheath.

They are on the heavy side, but for their size, seem to

be very durably made.

The handles are made of fiberglass, one had a black

handle and the other had a white handle. The handles are

two piece and connected with a metal cable. When the

handle is aligned with the folding hinge of the shovel, a

threaded portion allows both handle pieces to screw

together. Once screwed together, the shovel is a solid

assembly about a foot long.

This is a great folding shovel, but could use some slight

modifications. I added some grip tape to the end of the

fiberglass handle. This makes it more of a non slip

handle. I also proceeded to grind off the paint on one

edge. If sharpened, this could make it usable as a

weapon. (Very much like the Soviet Spetnatz shovels.)

Sharpening also allows it to dig better too.

As a digging tool, this shovel works well. While small, it

is comparable to an American military entrenching tool,

or the Soviet military shovels. The blade makes for a

decent shovel, while still keeping the size small enough

for backpack or hiking/camping use.

Grinding the paint off of the edges or just using them as

digging tools should wear the paint down, making it a

better tool over time. Some light grease on the hardware

and threaded portion will help with maintenance over

time.

It is hard to tell when these were made, no markings were

found on mine. But I am guessing sometime in the 1980's

as this seems to be the type I see online, searching for

entrenching tools. It was sold as a Hungarian entrenching

tool, but I have also seen Czech versions that look like

this.

This makes a good tool for digging your vehicle out of a

ditch, or for use at a camp site. These can be had rather

cheaply compared to other countries entrenching tool

shovels. They hold up well to abuse and use. I'm keeping

mine, they will age well and be used less than they were

in their previous life.

If anyone knows for sure when these were made, it would

help my curiosity, let me know any details you may have

on these unique shovels.